NDACo Week 6 Report

Wow! What a great hearing on the SURGE bill this week.  Sometimes the second hearing loses a little steam, but that was not the case with SB2103.  The Local Government folks turned out and brought some significant energy and passion to the hearing.  State Government was looking to restore some funding that wasn’t carried into this bill from the Governor’s “FastTrack” bill, but other than that the message was pass the bill “as is” and “SOON”.

The activity is becoming concentrated in the two Appropriations Committees as the “policy” committees finish their work in bills from their own house.  We will start to see some “crossed over” bills next week as the policy committees have largely wrapped things up.

An ill-conceived bill regarding the transfer of property described by metes and bounds had a fabulous hearing today (Thursday), with opposition from County Auditors, Tax Directors, Recorders, Engineers and Planners, as well as the Land Surveyors.  We truly hope for a favorable outcome on this one.

Considerably more time was also spent on the House and Senate floors this week, as their calendar’s continued to grow.   Notably:

HB1112 was passed by the House to allow the State to use the Disaster Relief Fund to help local government even if FEMA denies a federal disaster request.

HB1242, which would have created a new speeding fine structure - $3/mile over the posted limit regardless of roadway or speed, was narrowly defeated in the House on a 46-45 vote.

HB1345 to mandate that every county have 5 commissioners died on a 22-68 vote in the House

HB1495 to expand the options that local governments have to invest county funds was passed by the House (59-32) after being amended as requested by counties.

Many of the really BIG bills remain in the two Appropriations Committees, and the more moderate tobacco tax increases the proposal that would give additional revenue to county public health units is set for House floor debate on Friday. 

Next week (as you will see below) has few committee hearings on county bills, but the focus will be on the floor.  We may be sending alerts if we need some help there. 

 

Time	Bill Number	Description	Committee	Room
Monday 1/16
8:30	SB 2307	B ** Amended to 12% state-paid property tax relief	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
9:00	SB 2221	B * Increase homestead credit threshold to $150,000 value and slight increases to income thresholds	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
9:15	SCR 4021	S Study Medicaid reimbursement of mental illness	Senate Human Services	Red River
11:00	SB 2034	C Sales tax exemption for oil pipeline materials	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
2:30	SB 2374	Z Owners of oil, gas, saltwater gathering lines to obtain industrial commission permits, install flowmeters	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
3:30	SB 2322	A *** Tobacco tax increase, major funds to county for local public health	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
Tuesday 1/17
9:00	HCR 3037	L Study homemade food sales and local public health policies	House Human Services	Fort Union
9:15	SB 2063	S Court to provide DHS copy of filing termination of parental rights	House Human Services	Fort Union
9:30	SB 2081	S Modifies some foster home definitions, group home from 10 to 13 children	House Human Services	Fort Union
10:30	HB 1074	J Not having a real estate license is A misdemeanor	Senate Industry, Business and Labor	Roosevelt Park
11:00	SB 2027	J ** Mandatory sentencing changes - interim bill	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
11:30	SB 2048	S Behavioral health funding for DHS services and teacher training	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
Wednesday 1/18
8:30	SB 2107	J ** Adopts uniform act on human trafficking	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
9:00	SB 2284	J Defines hospital treatment of sex assault victims, law enforcement info	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
9:00	HB 1385	J Political subdivisions may not regulate voice over internet protocol service	Senate Industry, Business and Labor	Roosevelt Park
9:00	HB 1036	L Interim study for health professionals	Senate Human Services	Red River
9:00	SB 2082	S * Extends Medicaid asset test to basic care eligibility	House Human Services	Fort Union
9:15	HB 1037	S Interim study of Medicaid expansion	Senate Human Services	Red River
9:30	HB 1048	E Develop uniform licensing for social work examiners	Senate Human Services	Red River
9:30	SB 2332	J Increases offense class for hiring prostitute	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
Thursday 1/19
9:00	HCR 3036	J Study digital driver's licenses	House Transportation	Fort Totten
9:00	HB 1121	J Minor changes to CDL rules	Senate Transportation	Lewis and Clark
9:00	HCR 3025	X Resolution of commendation for Bison Football	House Gov & Vets Affairs	Fort Union
9:15	SCR 4014	A Study reinvestment scenarios for legacy fund	Senate Gov & Vets Affairs	Missouri River
9:30	HCR 3028	J Study creating, funding emergency response centers in rural areas	House Political Subdivisions	Prairie
9:45	SCR 4022	V Study election and lobbying laws	Senate Gov & Vets Affairs	Missouri River
10:00	HCR 3029	Z Study representation for extraterritorial zoning areas	House Political Subdivisions	Prairie
11:00	HB 1122	J Minor changes to driver's license renewal	Senate Transportation	Lewis and Clark
Friday 1/20
10:00	HB 1123	J Minor changes to Drivers Ed Programs	Senate Transportation	Lewis and Clark